Compressor baseplate with stiffening ribs for increased oil volume and rail mounting without spacers

Abstract

A compressor that includes a housing with a plurality of attached shell sections which define an internal volume of the compressor. In the housing, compressor bodies have respective surfaces which mutually engage. The compressor includes a drive unit disposed in the housing. The drive unit has a motor to provide a mechanical output on a drive shaft. The drive shaft drives one of the compressor bodies to facilitate relative movement for the compression of fluid. In an embodiment, the plurality of shell sections includes a base plate having an annular rib, which locates a tubular central shell section of the plurality of attached shell sections.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A compressor assembly, comprising:
 a housing that includes a plurality of attached shell sections which define an internal volume of the compressor; 
 compressor bodies disposed in the housing, the compressor bodies having respective surfaces which mutually engage; 
 a drive unit disposed in the housing, the drive unit having a motor to provide a mechanical output on a drive shaft, the drive shaft operatively driving the compressor bodies to facilitate relative movement for the compression of fluid; 
 wherein the plurality of shell sections includes a base plate having an annular rib which locates a tubular central shell section of the plurality of attached shell sections; and 
 wherein a central portion of the base plate is generally convex along the outer surface of the housing, and has two pairs of opposing angled sides, with a first pair of opposing angled sides being slightly concave with respect to the central portion, wherein a second pair of opposing angled sides has a generally linear profile when viewed in cross-section, with the second pair of opposing angled sides being shorter and angled steeper than the first pair. 
 
     
     
       2. The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion of the base plate extends downward when the compressor is right side up. 
     
     
       3. The compressor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the central portion of the base plate defines a lower boundary of an oil sump, and wherein the central portion of the base plate is bounded on its perimeter by the annular rib. 
     
     
       4. The compressor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the central portion of the base plate has a flattened bottom portion surrounded by angled sides. 
     
     
       5. The compressor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate includes a mounting surface radially outboard of, and surrounding, the annular rib, and wherein the mounting surface abuts one end of the tubular central shell section such that the annular rib contacts an interior surface at a bottom end of the tubular central shell section. 
     
     
       6. The compressor assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting surface of the base plate is generally flat, and wherein the base plate is welded to the tubular central shell section. 
     
     
       7. The compressor assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the annular rib projects upward from the mounting surface when the compressor is right side up. 
     
     
       8. The compressor assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the weld includes a circumferential weld joint located adjacent to an annular outer wall of the annular rib. 
     
     
       9. The compressor assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting surface of the base plate mounts directly onto a set of base rails without a separate mounting plate. 
     
     
       10. The compressor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the base plate includes at least one flange portion that extends either upward or downward from the mounting surface, wherein the base plate includes two flange portions, and wherein the set of base rails includes two substantially parallel base rails, and wherein the two flange portions extend between the two substantially parallel base rails. 
     
     
       11. The compressor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate is a single unitary part formed from sheet metal and that includes a plurality openings to accommodate fasteners for attaching the base plate to a set of base rails, wherein the base plate is generally rectangular having four corners, and wherein each corner has at least one of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
       12. The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate is configured to rest on a level surface or to be mounted onto a set of base rails without the use of grommets, spacers, or mounting feet. 
     
     
       13. The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate is a single unitary component part of sheet metal with the annular rib formed into the sheet metal, the annular rib includes an annular inner wall, an annular outer wall, and an annular apex which joins the annular inner wall to the annular outer wall. 
     
     
       14. The compressor of  claim 13 , wherein the annular rib further includes an annular channel located between the annular inner wall and annular outer wall, a portion of the annular channel defined by the annular apex.